HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 260-07City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
7
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
DATE:JUNE 18, 2007 CMR:260:07_
SUBJECT:APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY POLICY
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council approve revisions to the City’s sustainability policy to reflect
Palo Alto’s impact on global ecosystems and to expand social equity considerations.
BACKGROUND
The City of Palo Alto adopted a policy reflecting the City’s commitment to sustainability in April
2001 (CMR:175:01). This policy focused primarily on the environmental aspects of
sustainability and so was revised in June 2002 (CMR:271:02) to reflect the economic and social
equity components of sustainability. In April 2007 (CMR:211:07), Council directed staff to
recommend revisions to the City Sustainability Policy to incorporate climate protection.
DISCUSSION
The Environmental Stewardship Steering Committee developed recommended revisions to the
Sustainability Policy that would incorporate considerations relevant to climate protection.
Several committee members felt that the policy was already sufficient and did not necessarily
require revision, or at least that it should not be changed to call out any particular initiative such
as climate protection, as there are numerous other important sustainability issues that should not
necessarily be perceived as a secondary priority. That calling out particular initiatives might set
a precedent that if one area is not mentioned in the policy, then it is not covered by or relevant to
the policy. Staff feels that an attempt to make the policy inclusive may, in fact, make it
exclusive, because inevitably something may be left out or forgotten.
CMR:260:07 Page 1 of 3
Staff identified five main areas that deserve revision:
1.Add City operations to programs and services as a key mechanism for supporting the
policy.
2.Modify the social equity portion of the policy because it is vague and only specifies Palo
Alto. The decisions the City and its citizens make have implications beyond Palo Alto.
3.Revise the enviromnent section to emphasize positive actions.
4.Add "global" to the description of ecosystems, not just local and regional ecosystems.
5.Highlight neighboring COlnmunities as another key category of partners with wholu to
work.
The modification to the word "comprise" is merely a grammatical refinement.
The proposed revised policy with changes from the existing policy highlighted is as follows:
It is the intent of the City of Palo Alto to be a sustainable COlnmunity - one which meets
its current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. In adopting this policy, the City of Palo Alto accepts its responsibility,
through its operations, programs and services, to:
Economy: Maintain a healthy, thriving and well-balanced economy ........;oo~ ~"
comprising a blend of large and small business, which encourages the
development of independent businesses and is resilient to the economic changes
common to California’s economy.
Social Equity: Continuously improve the quality of life for all Palo Alto
community members without adversely affecting others.
~*";~;"~ * ......*~+ ~"~ ~"~ .....lityo e a r,land and........ ~ ~ e ...................E~ance the qua f th i water,
other natural resources by minimizing hulnan impacts on local, regional and
global ecosystems tl~ough greater conse~ancg, reduced pollution, increased
efficiency, and protection of; .......*~ ~-~ .......~ +~ ...........+;~,-_~ ..............~ .....................of native
vegetmion, fish, wildlife habitat and other ecosystems.; and minimize human
In working toward these goals, the City will, when appropriate, align and partner with
connnunity groups, businesses,_~ non-profits, and neighboring communities.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Adoption of the proposed revisions to the City Sustainability Policy does not have a direct
financial impact. Ec0nolnic impacts of recommended specific actions in support of the policy
will be addressed as they are brought to Council.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The proposed revisions address Climate Protection, identified a one of the Top 4 Priorities for
2007 (CMR: 163:07), and build on the existing Sustainability Policy Statement (CMR:271:02).
The policy supports the Green Government Pledge adopted July 19, 1999 (CMR 284:99), and
elemems of the Comprehensive Plan, the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
CMR:260:07 Page 2 of 3
elements of the Comprehensive Plan, the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Campaign
milestones (CMR:426:06)and the U~S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and is consistent
with the California Publicly Owned Electric Utilities’ Principles Addressing Greenhouse
Reduction Goals endorsed by Council in August 2006 (CMR:315:06). The Sustainability Policy
se~wes as an umbrella policy statement what provides direction for other policies and plans such
as the Comprehensive Plan, various land use Master Plans, Green Building Policies, Utilities
long-term resource plans, the Ahwatmee Principles, and other policy statements.
ATTACHI~IENTS
A. Existing City Sustainability Policy (adopted June 2006)
B. Recommended Revised City Sustainability Policy
PREPARED BY:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Karl E. IGnapp, Senior Resource Planner, Utilities
Am~ette Puskarich, Recycling Coordinator, Public Works
Wendy Hediger, Recycling Coordinator, Public Works
Tom Auzemae, Assistant Director, Utilities
Dan Firth, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal, Fire
Julie Weiss, Enviromnental Specialist, Public Works
Assistant City Manager
CMR:260:07 Page 3 of 3
Attaclmaent A: Palo Alto Sustainabilit’q Policy Adopted June 2002 (CMR:271:02)
It is the intent of the City of Palo Alto to be a sustainable colmnunity - one which meets its
current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In
adopting this policy, the City of Palo Alto accepts its responsibility, through its programs and
services, to:
Economy: Maintain a healthy, thriving and well-balanced economy comprised of a blend
of large and small business, which encore’ages the development of independent
businesses and is resilient to the economic changes common to California’s economy
Social Equity: Continuously improve the quality of life for all Palo Alto co~mnunity
members.
Environment: Reduce resource use and pollution in a cost-effective manner while
striving to protect and enhance the quality of the air, water, land and other natural
resources; promote and support the conservation of native vegetation, fish, wildlife
habitat and other ecosystems; and minimize human impacts on local and regional
ecosystems.
In working toward these goals, the City will, when appropriate, align and partner with
comlnunity gaoups, businesses and non-profits.
CMR:260:07 Page A-1
Attaclnnent B: Proposed Palo Alto Sustainability Policy
It is the imem of the City of Palo Alto to be a sustainable community - one which meets
its current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. Ia~ adopting this policy, the City of Palo Alto accepts its responsibility,
tlnough its operations, programs and services, to:
Economy: Maintain a healthy, thriving and well-balanced economy comprising a
blend of large and small business, which encourages the development of
independent businesses and is resilient to the economic changes common to
California’s economy
Social Equity: Continuously improve the quality of life for all Palo Alto
community members without adversely affecting others.
Environment: Enhance the quality of the air, water, land and other natural
resources by minimizing human impacts on local, regional and global
ecosystems tlu’ough greater conservancy, reduced pollntion, increased efficiency,
and protection of ; promote and support the conservation of native ~iegetation;
fish, wildlife habitat and other ecosystems.
In worldng toward these goals, the City will, when appropriate, align and partner with
community groups, businesses, non-profits, and neighboring convnunities.
CMR:260:07 Page B-1